Maryland to Hold Town Halls on Prescription Opioid Settlement Spending
Town Hall meetings will be held throughout Maryland that will focus on using prescription opioid settlement funds. The State Office of Overdose Response wants Marylanders to share their ideas on how the settlement proceeds can best be used to decrease overdoses and increase access to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, harm reduction and recovery services. The Town Halls are virtual and open to the public – registration is not required unless you would like to speak. The Eastern Shore Town Hall is set for Thursday, August 6th from 7 to 8pm.
Click here for the link to register to speak – and for the virtual town halls
Additional information from Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response:
“Maryland has already cut fatal overdoses in half since their 2021 peak, and that’s because we’ve invested in services across the continuum of care that save lives,” said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller. “These settlement dollars are a limited window to build something that outlasts the crisis that created it. We know that the settlement dollars make a real difference when they’re transparent, evidence-based, and shaped by the communities living through this every day. That’s why we’re asking Marylanders directly: these town halls are how we make sure these investments serve the people who need it most.”
“The Moore-Miller Administration believes wholeheartedly that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution,” said Maryland Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller. “Public input is essential for ensuring our overdose response efforts are as effective as possible. Every community has its own unique challenges, and we have to ensure that we consider those needs as we distribute settlement funds to help address the harms of the opioid and overdose crisis.”
About the Town Hall Series
Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response is hosting five separate town halls for each region of the state. These town halls are open to the public and registration is not required to attend. However, attendees who would like to speak should complete the registration form found at StopOverdose.maryland.gov/ORF.
- Central Maryland: August 4, 2026 (5:30–6:30 pm)
Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel County, Howard County, Harford County, Carroll County - Capital Region: August 5, 2026 (5:30–6:30 pm)
Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, Frederick County - Southern Maryland: August 5, 2026 (7–8 pm)
Calvert County, Charles County, St. Mary’s County - Western Maryland: August 6, 2026 (5:30–6:30 pm)
Washington County, Allegany County, Garrett County - Eastern Shore: August 6, 2026 (7–8 pm)
Cecil County, Kent County, Queen Anne’s County, Talbot County, Caroline County, Dorchester County, Wicomico County, Somerset County, Worcester County
About Prescription Opioid Settlements in Maryland
Maryland expects to receive over $687 million over the next 15 years through nine finalized settlements, with over $90 million in additional funds expected for the Purdue Pharma settlement once finalized. Of this, approximately 70% will be distributed directly to counties, cities, and towns that joined the state’s settlements with prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors and retail pharmacies. The state has discretion over the remaining 30% of funds, half of which must be distributed through competitive grants.
As of the 2025 fiscal year, the state has received approximately $245.8 million. Nearly $170 million has already gone to or is available for use by counties, cities, and towns across the state, with more on the way. You can learn more about the state’s efforts to distribute settlement funds at StopOverdose.maryland.gov/ORF.
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Operating under the leadership of the Office of Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller and Special Secretary of Overdose Response Emily Keller, Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response works to increase collaboration across all state and local agencies working to reduce overdoses and increase access to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services across the state.
Stay in Contact!
- Complete this form to receive future updates from our office.
- Email StopOverdose@maryland.gov with any questions or for more information.